I finally dug these two issues out of my To Read pile, Absolute Batman #4 and Absolute Batman #5. And honestly? I should have read them sooner. If you thought Absolute Batman #3 was slow, these two are the apology letter.
I’m still playing catch-up. The trucks are running late, my pull list is piling up, and reviewing these issues one by one feels like paying for shipping twice. So, we’re doing a Double Feature.
Issues #3 was the setup (the talky one). Absolute Batman #4 and Absolute Batman #5 are the Payoff. This is where the Party Animals stop being a cool gang name and start being a domestic terrorism problem. If you’re a collector staring at these two issues in a back-issue bin, wondering which one to grab, I’m here to save you five bucks.
The Plot: Escalation of Force
In Absolute Batman #4, we take a detour. We get a flashback to Bruce confronting Joe Chill in court. It’s moody, it’s quiet, and it explains why this Batman is so angry he could punch a hole in concrete.
- The Sarcasm Check: Bruce realizes his theatrics aren’t enough. Apparently, just being 6’6″ and built like a fridge isn’t scary enough for Gotham criminals. Who knew?
In Absolute Batman #5, the scale tips. Black Mask (who is terrifyingly competent in this universe) pushes back. This isn’t the mob boss Black Mask from the cartoons; this is a guy who live-streams his crimes for clout.
- The Stakes: Batman literally burns Black Mask’s money to create a Bat-signal. It’s the most eat the rich moment in Batman history, which is ironic considering Bruce used to be the richest guy in the room.
The Collector’s Audit: The “Walta” Factor
Okay, here is the Uncle Juan advice. You have $10. Which one do you buy?
The Case for Absolute Batman #4 (The Artist Switch)
- The Art: Surprise! Nick Dragotta takes a break, and Gabriel Hernandez Walta steps in.
- The Vibe: Walta’s art is scratchy, haunting, and completely different. It fits the flashback tone perfectly, but if you bought this expecting Dragotta’s clean lines, you might be confused.
- Verdict: Buy it if you like Atmosphere. It’s a slow burn.
The Case for Absolute Batman #5 (The Beatdown)
- The Action: Dragotta returns, and thank god, because Batman gets absolutely wrecked. He gets stabbed with his own knives, shot with net guns, and thrown off a roof.
- The Spec: This issue is the First Major Defeat. Speculators love issues where the hero loses.
- Verdict: Buy it if you want Violence. This is the issue where the Absolute suit gets tested.
The Human Logistics: Alfred as the Anchor
I mentioned in my Issue #3 review that the Bruce/Alfred dynamic is the core. In #4 and #5, it gets tested.
Alfred (the MI6 agent, not the butler) isn’t just following orders. He pushes back. He questions Bruce’s non-lethal logistics in a war zone. Watching them argue tactics while Batman is bleeding out is the highlight of the script. It proves they are partners, not Master and Servant. Also, Alfred is the only person brave enough to tell a 300-pound Batman that his plan is stupid.
The Art: Dragotta vs. Walta
This is where the bundle review helps. You get to see two completely different Gotham styles back-to-back.
- Walta (Absolute Batman #4): Draws Gotham like a haunted house. Everything feels old, dusty, and sad.
- Dragotta (Absolute Batman #5): Draws Gotham like a construction site. Everything is sharp, heavy, and loud.
Personally? I prefer Dragotta’s kinetic energy for this series, but Walta’s issue is a nice palate cleanser. It’s like listening to a sad indie song before the heavy metal starts.
Final Verdict: The “Arc” Bundle
Separately? These issues are just good. Together? They tell the complete story of Batman trying to escalate the war and failing miserably.
- Absolute Batman #4: 7.5/10 (Great mood, jarring art shift).
- Absolute Batman #5: 8.5/10 (The action issue we were waiting for).
My Advice: If you find them in a discount bin, grab Issue #5. It’s the essential chapter. Issue #4 is nice for the lore, but you can read the wiki summary and survive. Issue #5 is where the bone-breaking happens.
Combined Score: 8/10
New to Absolute Batman? Read the first issue review, Absolute Batman #1 Review: Broken City, Brutal Bat, Bold Reboot. If you have done that, then next is Absolute Batman #6 Review: The Brutal Finale & The Joker Key.
